English Electric LIGHTNING: The RAF’s COLD WAR Interceptor!

First flown in 1954, the Lightning was a MACH 2+ FIGHTER JET designed to rapidly intercept Soviet Air Force bombers and reconnaissance aircraft at first detection. Although fuel limitations made it a little short on range, the Lightning had no problem with overall performance, its pilots describing the experience of flying the airplane as “being saddled to a skyrocket!” The LIGHTING served the Royal Air Force until its retirement in 1988, but this FIGHTER JET still has the looks of a rocket ship from the future. Today’s aviation art release depicts a Lighting pair performing a high-altitude turn in the darkening skies above England.

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